Who We Are

School districts, communities, businesses and nonprofits working in partnership for children in our region

What is Learn4Life?
We are a collaborative effort made up of people and organizations committed to our region. We have a vested interest in making sure all students succeed, because we know metro Atlanta’s long-term vitality and prosperity depends on our commitment to educating our young people and preparing the next generation of leaders and citizens. Working together, we leverage our skills and resources to address specific outcomes identified through data analysis. Learn more about our work.

Our Vision 
To ensure that every child in our region becomes a thriving citizen who achieves success in school, career and life, while contributing to our community.

Our Mission
• To engage education, business and community partners, along with families and students, in a regional cradle-to-career initiative
• To align educational efforts and resources, ensuring success for every child
• To collect and analyze data so we can measure our progress and determine where we should focus our resources

Key Elements

Common Agenda: A regional approach where all partners share a common vision for change

Shared Measurement: All partners agree on how success is measured, and we share these data and analyse

Reinforcing Activity: All partners coordinate individual and joint actions to support our common agenda

Continuous Communication: All partners communicate openly and honestly to build trust, motivation and shared accountability

Support: All our partners commit both financially and personally to this joint approach

How Will Learn4Life Measure Success?

In all activities, we use data as a flashlight, not as a hammer. We want to lift up successful practices throughout the region using an evidence-based approach. By focusing on six key indicators, we will measure our progress and share efforts that have proven to be uncommonly successful.

  • We collect and analyze data to shape our work;
  • Share accountability for results;
  • Highlight investments that positively influence outcomes for every child; and
  • Focus resources on what works to help meet our shared goals.

School District Partners

Our School System Partners

Our Supporters

Our supporters generously provide the resources we need to implement effective strategies on a large scale.

11Alive
AT&T Georgia
Atlanta Regional Commission*
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta*
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Dobbs Foundation
Gas South
Genuine Parts
Georgia Power
Graphic Packaging International, Inc
Home Depot Foundation
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce*
Morehouse School of Medicine
Sartain Lanier Family Foundation
State Farm
The Kendeda Fund
The Zeist Foundation
United Way of Greater Atlanta*

*Indicates Executive Committee members. The Executive Committee is made up of established nonprofit organizations with a shared commitment to strengthening our region.

Leadership

The Leadership Council is a diverse group of senior executives who guide our work and bring together stakeholders throughout
the region to partner with us and make a collective, positive impact on education in our region.

Kenneth Zeff, Executive Director, Learn4Life

Community
 Kim Anderson, Former CEO, Families First
Mindy Binderman, Executive Director, GEEARS
Dr. Steve Dolinger, President, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
Milton Little, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Aníbal Torres, Executive Director, Latin American Association

Higher education
 Dr. Glen Cannon, President, Gwinnett Technical College
Dr. Tim Hynes, President, Clayton State University
Claire E. Sterk, President, Emory University
Dr. David A. Thomas, President, Morehouse College

Business
 Ann Cramer, Senior Consultant*, Coxe Curry & Associates
Kevin Greiner, President and CEO, Gas South
Jenna Kelly, President and CEO Atlanta Division SunTrust Bank
Anne Kaiser, Vice President, Community and Economic Development, Georgia Power
Dan Kaufman, President and CEO, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO*, Metro Atlanta Chamber
Sylvia Russell, Former President†, AT&T Georgia
David Scheible, Former President and CEO†,
Graphic Packaging International
Henry Walker, Chairman, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Pre-K-12 education
 Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools
Dr. David Dude, Superintendent, City Schools of Decatur
Dr. R. Stephen Green, Superintendent, DeKalb County School District
Dr. Morcease J. Beasley, Superintendent, Clayton County Public Schools
Chris Ragsdale, Superintendent, Cobb County School District
Dr. Grant Rivera, Superintendent, Marietta City Schools
Alvin Wilbanks, CEO and Superintendent, Gwinnett County Schools

Philanthropic
Kappy deButts, Executive Director, The Zeist Foundation
Dena Kimball, Executive Director, The Kendeda Fund
Alicia Philipp, President*, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Teresa Rivero, Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Government
Doug Hooker, Executive Director*,
Atlanta Regional Commission
Dennis Lockhart, Former President and CEO†, Federal Reserve Bank of America

*Indicates Executive Committee members. The Executive Committee is made up of established nonprofit organizations with a shared commitment to strengthening our region.

†Indicates Executive Champions. Executive Champions are senior members of the metro Atlanta business community who bring their leadership and influence to support the Learn4Life vision.

Core Team
Cross functional leaders who support implementation and communication across sectors to eliminate silos and deliver results.

Brad Bryant, REACH Georgia
Dr. Leslie Bussey, Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI)
Tim Cairl, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Mike Carnathan, Atlanta Regional Commission
Lesley Grady, Community Foundation for Greater Georgia
Amy Mast, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Dr. Dana Rickman, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE)
Ashley Rivera, Atlanta Region Commission